Method of coating heels



Patented Nov. 9, l926..

PATENT Fries.

RICHARD M. TEETSAL, STANLEY J. IBEEBE, AND BENJAMIN S. WARNER, OF ENDI-COTT, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS 'IO ENDICO'IT JOHNSON CORPORATION, OFENDICOTT, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

METHOD OF COATING HEELS.

No Drawing.

The invention is a novel method of coating heels by the dipping process,and the principal object thereof is to provide a novel, simple andeflicient commercial method for dipping wooden, leather or fibre heelsinto vats containing celluloid coating materials, or lacquers ofcellulose-or other material of similar properties (such as Duco),whereby a uniform smooth celluloid finish 1 is given thereto in variouscolors.

Heretofore heels have been covered with sheets of celluloid and thelike, but the dipping method or process for coating same has beenheretofore unsuccessfully attempted,

because the necessary time element for such dipping was not appreciated,and consequently bubbles of air or moisture would form or rise upon thesurfaces of such dipped heels, rendering the same unsightly inappearance, and hence commercially useless. But by using our noveldipping method the coating may be applied smoothly and free from suchdefects, and the heels may be readily manufactured commercially in largenumbers. 1

Furthermore, it is Well known that in dipping processes, as the articlesare withdrawn from the solution in the vat, ridges of coating materialwill be formed around so the lower ends of such articles, which rid esbeing thicker than the normal coatings etract from the appearance of thearticle, and rendenthe heels so dipped commercially use less. Ourdipping method however not only 85 eliminates such ridges from thefinished heels, but overcomes the formation of the above-mentioned airor moisture bubbles upon the surfaces of the coated heels.

We will explain the invention in order to enable others familiar withthe art to adopt and use the same, and will summarize 1n the claims theessential features of the invention for which protection is desired.

In our novel process or method, a di ping machine of well known type isutilize said machine being provided with an elevator carrying a rackcontaining a plurality of work holders, and means being provided forlowering the elevator to dip the heels on the work holders into thecoating solution contained in the vat, and for raising the elevatorthrough suitable speed reducing mechanism, to withdraw the coated heelsfrom the vat at a very low speed thereby permitting Application filedMarohBQ, 1926. Serial No. 98,624.

suitable drying kilns to absorb as much mois- 6a I ture and airtherefrom as possible. We have found, however, it is impossible toabsorb all the air and moisture from the heels, since the normalatmosphere contains moisture which collects in the cells of the wood orthe like after the heels have been removed from the kilns.

The previously dried heels are then mounted on the work holdersof therack, and the elevator carrying the heels is then lowered into the vatcontaining the celluloid coating material, such as lacquer of cellulose,or other material of similar pro erties, or such material may be acommercia product Duco, obtained on the market. The heels are then leftimmersed in the coating solution for an initial period of approximatelythree minutes, during which time the ether in the solution penetratesinto the body pores of the heel driving out all the air and s5 moisturetherein, which may be seen risin as bubbles to the surface of thesolution, a jacent the heels, during the initial period of immersion.When such bubbles cease rising the motor or other device for raisin the00 elevator is set in motion and the bee s are slowly withdrawn from thesolution, the celluloid obtaining an initial set or hardness while andas the heels are so withdrawn. Our particular process re uiresapproximatel seven minutes for wit drawing the heels mm the solution.Repeated experiments have shown that the time element is the essentialand im ortant factor or feature in the above ipping method, for wherethe heels are slowly withdrawn by the elevator from the solutionimmediately after immersion without first; permitting same to stand forthe initial period of approximately three minutes, air and moisturebubbles will nevertheless form on the surfaces of the 'heels during thefirst coating rendering same dipped by our method above described areentirely free from such bubbles and the heels emerge therefrom with auniform, smooth coating having an initial set.

The rack is then removed from the elevator, and the first coating on theheels permitted to harden more thoroughly. The heels are then redippedin the same solution. The duration of the redipping depends upon thehardness or dryness of the first coating. If the heels have hardenedovernight and are hence substantially thoroughly dry, the heels, on thesame rack, should be dipped and immediately withdrawn at a uniform speedover a period of approximately 20 seconds. If, however, the secondcoating is applied the same day as the first coating, the heels shouldbe permitted to stand in the solution for an initial period ofapproximately one and one-half minutes before withdrawal, and thenwithdrawn slowly as in the first coating step, whereupon the heelsemerge with a uniform coating, which is somewhat thicker and smootherthan the first coating.

, The heels are then again permitted to dry and thoroughly harden for asuflicient length of time, and the third dipping then effected. In thisstep the heels are merely dipped in the solution and withdrawn quickly,and then permitted to harden. This completes the coating operation, andrepeated experiments have shown that such method produces a superiorproduct, and that the heels have a hard, glossy, glass-like surface,free from pits or bubbles. The coating, when struck with a hammer or thelike does not ends of the heels, before nected with the work hol ers ofthe racks,

peel, crack, chip, or flake even when the wood itself is dented, andhence the coating is extremel durable, waterproof, and may be of anyesired color.

The heels before coating must be given a smooth finish, and also theupper ends thereof should not be gouged out to form the heel seatsbefore the coating; moreover the heels before coatingshould be madeslightly longer than the lengii of the finished heel for the followingreasons? The heel seat ouging are consaid work holders being preferablylike those shown in the application of Stanley J. Beebe, Serial No.89,210, filed Feb. 18, 1926, which work holders hold the heels withtheir upper surfaces parallel with the surface of the solution in thevat, so that when the heels are lowered until their upper surfaces arelevel with the coating solution their u per faces will not be coated. Asdprevious y stated, the blank heels are ma e slightly longer than thedesiredlength of the finished heels so that the lower end of the heelupon which the ridge of celluloid collects may be cut off or gradedabove the ridge,

and a treadlift of leather or rubber applied thereto in the usualmanner. heels are coated and graded, the same may be run through agouging machine to gouge out the heel seat.

Our novel method of coating heels is simple, efficient, commercial, andproduces a superior product by the dipping process. The celluloidcoating will-not eel, flake, chip, or crack, and is extreme y durable,smooth, glossy, and waterproof. Repeated experiments have shown that thetime element is an important factor in the dipping method, due to theair and moisture contained in the pores of the heels.

What we claim:

1. The herein described method of coating heel blanks with lacquer ofcellulose, consisting in immersing the blanks in the lacquer;maintaining the blanks immersed for a period suflicient'to drive off theair and moisture therefrom; then. withdrawing the blanks from thelacquer at a uniform speed sulficiently slow to permit the coating toinitially set during such withdrawal.

2. In a method as set forth in claim 1, the heel blanks being longerthan the desired length of the finished heels; and cutting off the lowerends of the blanks above the rldge of lacquer after the coatingoperation.

3. The herein described method of coating heel blanks with lacquer ofcellulose, consisting in immersing the blanks in the lacquer until'theirupper surfaces are flush with the surface of the lacquer; maintainingthe blanks immersed for a period sufficient to drive off the air andmoisture therefrom; then withdrawing the blanks from the lacquer at auniform speed sufficiently slow to permit the coating to initially setduring. such withdrawal.

4. In a method as set forth in claim 3, the blanks being lon er than thedesired length of the finished eels; and cutting off the lower ends ofthe blanks above the ridge of lacquer after the coating operation.

5. The herein described method of coating heel blanks with lacquer ofcellulose, consisting in immersing the blanks, before gouging the heelseats, in the lacquer, until their upper surfaces are flush with thesurface of the lacquer; maintaining the blanks so immersed for a periodsufiicient to drive off the air and moisture therefrom; then withdrawingthe blanks from the lacquer at a uniform speed sufliciently slow topermit the coating to initially set during such withdrawal; and thenre-immersing the heels.

6. In a method as set forth in claim 5, the blanks being longer than thedesired length of the finished heels; cutting off the lower ends of theblanks, above the ridge of After the i lacquer, after the coatingoperation; and

' ing heels consisting in immersing the heels ihg heels, consisting inimmersing the heels in the coating material; maintaining the heelsimmersed for a period sufiicient to drive off the air and moisturetherefrom; then withdrawing the heels from the coating material at auniform speed sufficiently slow to permit the coating to initially setdurin such withdrawal.

8'. l n a method as set forth in claim 7, the heels being longer thanthe desired length of the finished heels; and cutting off the lower endsof the heels above the ridge of coating material after the coatingoperation.

9. The herein described method of coatin the coating material untiltheir upper surfaces are flush with the surface thereof;

maintaining the heels immersed for a period sufficient to drive oil? theair and moisture therefrom; then withdrawing the heels from the coatingmaterial at a uniform speed sufficiently slow to permit the coating toinitially set during such withdrawal.

10. In a method as set forth in claim 9, the heels being longer than thedesired length of the finished heels; and cutting off the lower ends ofthe heels above the ridge of coating material after the coatingoperation.

11..In a method as set forth in claim 9,

the heels being longer than the desired a length of the finishedheels;cutting off the lower ends of the heels above the ridge of coatingmaterial after the coating operation; and finally gouging the heelseats.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own, We afiix oursignatures.

. RICHARD M. TEETSAL.

STANLEY J. BEEBE. BENJAMIN S. WARNER.

